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Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch: made with homemade cranberry-orange syrup, warming bourbon, orange liquor, bitters, fresh citrus, sweet cinnamon, and bubbly champagne. This punch is so easy to create—simply mix everything together for a holiday punch that’s perfectly sweetened, festive, and delicious! Serve each cocktail with sugared cranberries for a touch of holiday sparkle and magic. All your guests will love this Thanksgiving punch!
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It’s time! The holiday cocktails and mocktails are coming. My favorite season of all is here! Last week, I shared the most popular Thanksgiving cocktails (and mocktails) we’ve posted over the years. If you missed it, take a look, there are so many great cocktails and mocktails from holiday’s past.
Something I noticed while reviewing all those previous drinks was a lack of punch recipes. Once I realized that, I knew our first Thanksgiving cocktail of the season needed to be a festive punch!
Everyone can love a good punch. Plus, having your cocktails mixed and waiting for holiday guests is the secret to entertaining with no stress.
Here are the Steps
Cranberry syrup ingredients
- maple syrup
- brown sugar
- fresh cranberries
- cinnamon sticks
- oranges
Punch Ingredients
- Bourbon
- orange liquor
- cranberry juice, or use pomegranate juice
- apple cider
- orange bitters
- champagne
- star anise and extra cinnamon sticks – optional but totally festive!
Mocktail Ingredients
- cranberry juice, or use pomegranate juice
- apple cider
- orange juice
- orange bitters
- sparkling grape juice, or use ginger beer (my favorite)
- star anise and extra cinnamon sticks – optional but totally festive!
Step 1: make the cranberry syrup
The key to this punch is the cranberry syrup. It’s what gives this drink color, flavor, and sweetness. Instead of your basic simple syrup with sugar and water (which I always find to be so bland), I did mine with fresh cranberries, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest.
If cranberries aren’t for you, simply omit them completely from the syrup. Additionally, swap the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice.
Step 2: make the punch
Mix the cranberry syrup, bourbon, orange liquor, bitters, and cinnamon sticks in a large punch bowl or drink dispenser. Chill the mix until you plan to serve. This can be made 3 to 4 days ahead.
I like to use spiced apple cider with no sugar added for additional flavor, but it’s a little harder to find. Either one will work.
Just before serving, pour over a bottle of champagne, then serve!
A Festive Approach
To go the extra mile, make sugared cranberries for garnishing each drink. Just soak cranberries in maple syrup, toss them in sugar, and leave them to dry.
In addition to the cranberries, I added fresh orange zest and a cinnamon stick too!
So easy, festive, and pretty!
The Mocktail
For friends who don’t drink, you’ve still got them covered – simply make the non-alcoholic variation!
I hope you all enjoy this very fun drink and that it brings plenty of cheer to your holiday season!
Looking for other easy punch recipes?? Here are my favorites:
Sparkling Christmas Party Punch
Holiday Cheermeister Bourbon Punch
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned Pitcher
Lastly, if you make this Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch
Ingredients
Cranberry Syrup
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 large orange – zest from 1 large orange
Punch
- 6 cups 100% cranberry juice or cranberry pomegranate juice
- 2 cups apple cider
- 8 ounces (1 cup) Bourbon
- 3 ounces (1/3 cup) orange liquor
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 orange, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 bottle (750 ml) champagne
- star anise, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. To make the Cranberry Syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, maple syrup, brown sugar, cranberries, and cinnamon to a boil over high heat. Boil for 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest. If your syrup thickens too quickly, add additional water to thin. Let cool. If desired, strain out the cranberries.2. To make the punch. In a large pitcher, combine the syrup, cranberry juice, apple cider, bourbon, orange liquor, and bitters. Stir until combined. Add the cinnamon sticks and 1-2 star anise (if desired. Chill until ready to serve. 3. Just before serving, add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the champagne. Stir in the orange slices. Add ice to cocktail glasses and pour over the punch. Serve with sugared cranberries, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Thanksgiving Cranberry Cobbler Punch Mocktail
Ingredients
Cranberry Syrup
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 large orange – zest from 1 large orange
Punch
- 6 cups 100% cranberry juice or cranberry pomegranate juice
- 3 cups spiced apple cider
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 orange, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups sparkling white grape juice, or use ginger beer
- star anise, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. To make the Cranberry Syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, maple syrup, brown sugar, cranberries, and cinnamon to a boil over high heat. Boil for 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest. If your syrup thickens too quickly, add additional water to thin. Let cool. If desired, strain out the cranberries.2. To make the punch. In a large pitcher, combine the syrup, cranberry juice, apple cider, orange juice, bitters, and vanilla. Stir until combined. Add the cinnamon sticks and 1-2 star anise (if desired). Chill until ready to serve. 3. Just before serving, add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the sparkling grape juice. Stir in the orange slices. Add ice to cocktail glasses and pour over the punch. Serve with sugared cranberries (if desired).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I loved this recipe and so did my family!
I made the mocktail version and it was delicious. The only thing I’d change is I’d blend the syrup ingredients (minus the cinnamon stick) so it’s still thick but no clumpy skins. I can’t wait to make the alcoholic version for Christmas.
Hey Paula,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was a winner! Happy Holidays!
Can you use prosecco?
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, that would be just fine for you to do! I hope you love this recipe!
Happy Thanksgiving!
You call for “Apple Cider” is this the grocery store unfiltered, unsweetened non-alcoholic type or the alcoholic “hard cider” usually clear and sparkling. Can either be used?
Hey Richard,
You will want to use grocery store, unfiltered, non-alcoholic apple cider for this recipe.
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers!
This looks delicious! I would like to make the mocktail version. I notice that it has orange bitters. Is there something I can substitute for that? Or leave it out?
Hi Val,
Sure, you can leave it out. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers!
We just had this punch w Thanksgiving today and WOW- it was incredible! It is a bit strong, but hey, that’s sometimes needed on this holiday! Grateful for this delicious new discovery!
Hey Bri,
Amazing! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it and your comment! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! xx
How many days early can I make this?
Hi Sara,
You could make this a couple days in advance, I would just wait to add the champagne. I hope this helps! Cheers! xx
Won’t the sugar on the sugared cranberries melt when you add to the drink, leaving plain cranberries?
Hi Natalie,
I didn’t have that issue:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! Happy Thanksgiving! xT
Any chance you have the recipe for one or two cocktails instead of a whole bowl or punch?
Hi Patty,
So if you just go above the list of ingredients, you can adjust the serving size and then all of the measurements will adjust for you:) Cheers! xx
Could the bourbon be replaced with vodka?
Hi Grace,
You bet, that will also work nicely for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try. Cheers! xx
I’m wanting to double or possibly triple this recipe for Thanksgiving and am looking for a drink dispenser on Amazon. So, in order to find the right size drink dispenser, I’m wondering how much this recipe makes E.G. 1 gallon, 2 1/2 gallon, etc.?
Hey Jessica!! I would say around a gallon! Hope you and your family and guests love this so much! Let me know if you have other questions! Happy thanksgiving !! Xx
This looks amazing, thank you!
Thanks so much, Alexander! I hope you have a great weekend! xT
Do you use the cranberry syrup? If so at what step?
I don’t see in the recipe where or how the syrup is used here 🤷🏼♀️
Hi Lisa,
You are going to use all of the syrup in step 2. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! Cheers! xT
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, you are going to use all of the syrup in step 2. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xT
Can I substitute orange liqueur for the orange liquor?
Hi Dana,
Yes, you are going to use orange liqueur in this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Sorry, what is orange liquor? It’s written throughout the recipe. Thanks!
I’m guessing she means Cointreau or Grand Marnier
So does she not know the difference between liqueur and liquor? I thought “liquor” was intentional but maybe not.